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often expressed a regard for me since she has been here. ... Nor will I exchange visits with any lady, where my hushand is not received with equal attention.
"I hear that my father is chosen a delegate to Congress for next year. I hope he will accept, for, independent of my wish that he should not retire from public business, I think his presence in Congress would do a great deal towards reforming the wrong sentiments and opinions that many are biased by. Both precept and example are wanting here; and his sentiments in politics are more respected than those of many other persons. It is said he must come and be President next year. ... Every body is looking forward to the establishment of the new Constitution, with great expectations of receiving advantage from it. To me, I confess, the consequences are problematical; and should any one or more states continue to oppose it, and refuse to adopt it, melancholy will be the scenes which ensue, I fear."
On another occasion, she writes to Mrs. Adams: "We have dined to-day at President Griffin's, with a company of twenty-two persons, including many members of Congress, &c. Had you been present you would have trembled for your country, to have seen, heard and observed the men who are its rulers. Very different they were, I believe, in times past. All now were high upon the question before them; some were for it, some against it; and there were very few whose behavior bore many marks of wisdom."
"You would not be much pleased with society here. It is quite enough dissipated. Public dinners, public days, and private parties, may take up a person's whole attention, if they attend to them all. The President of Congress gives a dinner one or two or more days every week, to twenty persons — gentlemen and ladies. Mr. Jay, I believe, gives a dinner almost every week, besides, one to the corps diplomatique; on Tuesday evenings Miss Van Berckel